WICKED MINT

Colleen & Kenny Get Married!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-29T13:15:00.001-04:00

On September 25, 2010 our little baby elephant, Colleen, married Kenny in Brooklyn, New York at My Moon. There is only one word to describe Colleen on her wedding day: radiant. The couple glowed with happiness the entire weekend and you could just feel magic in the air. It was absolutely amazing to have all our friends in one place to celebrate two people we love soooo freaking much. Congratulations, Kluttzogs!!!

Time to get ready!

Colleen's sister & nieces -not flower girls, but Princess Assistants

The Kluttz family

So much love!!

It's ok, I know him.

Lydia & Starr

During the couple's first dance we decided to form a weird woman circle and danced around them.

I don't think it's possible to smile any harder!

What? You've never played Blanket Bride?

Ari has a book coming out next week - make sure you buy a copy of Herding Donkeys.

Erin, get under that dress!

Starr's turn!

For all you Real Housewives of New York fans: ever been to a wedding where Money Can't Buy You Class is played? Watch out cause the dance floor turns into a catwalk (and many confused people stand in a circle and watch).

Apple Picking Time

2010-09-21T10:07:00.000-04:00

Went to Fishkill Farm this weekend and ate our way through the apple orchards. We took home 20 lbs of Macouns, Macintoshes and Spartans, and continued to eat our way through the weekend.

Clay used to spray on the apples in lieu of pesticides.

American Gothic

If I could...just...reach...my utility belt...

Just a few more!

This dude wanted to kick my ass so hard.

Memory Globes at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum

2010-09-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

On Sunday I taught at class at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum as part of the Design Kids program sponsored by Target. My class was all about how to make a Memory Globe a.k.a. snow globes. I guess my past snow globe sessions at Etsy and with friends have turned me into a bit of an expert on the subject, but I also have instructions listed right here on my blog.

We had a great turn-out in the two sessions and everyone - kids and parents - took home some wonderful creations. It was so fun to see everyone get creative with the projects. We had teeny-tiny globes with just a kitten and 3 buttons (representing balls of yard) and giant globes with a wild underwater scenes and dinosaurs "drinking" from the top.

This little guy won the raffle and picked up a Wicked Mint pencil pouch.

My Weekend

2010-09-13T16:14:00.001-04:00

Friday

Saturday

Saturday Night

Sunday

This weekend we hiked Mt. Beacon and enjoyed some awesome, free music from the band Dead Empires in the DMV parking lot. Beacon hosts something called Second Saturdays - a city-wide celebration of the arts held on the second Saturday of every month when galleries and shops stay open until 9pm. Gallery openings, music are just some of the ongoing events

Happy Birthday Siobhan and Meredith!

2010-09-07T08:25:00.000-04:00

On Labor Day, Ari organized a surprise party for Meredith's birthday. It was awesome and, even though she had just gotten off a plane, we partied pretty hard for 31 year olds on a school night.

And on Thursday we continued to party as we celebrated Siobhan's 30th Birthday with an amazing dinner at Rye!!!!

Labor Day Weekend 2010

2010-09-06T08:16:00.000-04:00

My sister, Ezra and Wesley came for a quick visit and we had a campfire in the backyard and hiked up Mt. Beacon. We had other visitors on Sunday night, but the camera didn't make it out - sorry Tim and Sabrina! We had another campfire and went on more walks.

Wicked Mint on Apartment Therapy

2010-08-24T23:55:00.001-04:00

Got a nice mention on Apartment Therapy on August 18, 2010 as part of a round up of designers on Supermarket. Of course my chair got more action in the comments than my pillows, but at least I got a bunch of orders. Man, I wish I could make those chairs - I must receive at least one email a week asking if someone can buy it from me or find it in a store.

Still Looking to Give My Jewelry a New Home

2010-08-24T23:26:00.005-04:00

I've been searching for a jewelry box forever. I don't think I even have all that much jewelry, but what I have sits in 4 boxes and it's just annoying, isn't organized, and I hate having them stacked on my dresser looking like crap. I thought about getting something like this, I thought of making something to mount on the wall, but none of it felt right.

Well, praise the jewelry universe because I just discovered what I've been looking for - vintage machinist chests. Once used for tools and hardware they have lots of compartments and look pretty.

Now I just need to win an eBay auction...

Image from MachinistChest.com

Of course, there is also the option of buying a new chest by the same manufacturer, but they're very expensive ($300 and up).

However, when I started browsing I found a new version of the same chest and some other options - all within my budget plus I don't have to limp through eBay anxiety.

$145.00 from Grizzly.com

$31.95 from Grizzly.com

$59.95 from Grizzly.com

My Best Friend's Wedding

2010-08-24T09:55:00.002-04:00

This weekend Abe and I went to Kennebunkport, ME for Allyson and Mike's wedding. Allyson and I have been best friends for 18 years and I've known Mike since they first started dating over 7 years ago. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful the weekend was - both visually and emotionally. -Let's just say that this wedding was one of the best days of MY life. I'll never forget it - we had soooooooo much fun!

Allyson was a pretty chilled out bride, but tagging all lollipops almost pushed her over the edge. Carolyn (one of the bridesmaids) made all the pops - amazing! They were used for seat assignments.

Allyson and her parents practice the big walk!

Sorry little guy, you were very delicious.

Shana's turn for make-up.

Pre-ceremony lobster rolls (not shown here because they were devoured).

Our bouquets done by Danielson Flowers were GORGEOUS.

We took photos before the ceremony so we could all enjoy the cocktail hour. Such a good move.

Me, the maid of honor, smooching the bride. I love Mike's face.

Glambert Nation

2010-08-17T13:13:00.001-04:00

This weekend was a biggie - an Adam Lambert concert at Musikfest and Colleen's grown-up bridal shower.

I've been hearing about Musikfest, which takes place in Bethlehem, PA for as long as I've known Colleen - about 11 years. This was my first trip to Musikfest and it did not disappoint. Colleen, Kenny, Miles and I gripped our mugs of cold beer and attended the most glitter-filled concert I've ever attended.

Kenny wrote up a great review of the show and has video and photos over on the MOG site.

And the next day we washed the sequins off our faces and went to Colleen's lady-like bridal shower thrown by her mom and sisters.

Electric Windows and Sunshine

2010-08-02T23:43:00.000-04:00

This weekend I battled with a sore throat, but managed to fit in quite a bit: power washing the deck & porch, refinishing a table, Electric Windows art event, meeting 2 new friends, a coworker's family BBQ with amazing Jamaican food, and a picnic and live music on the Cold Spring waterfront with Piper.

Россия

2010-07-27T21:23:00.002-04:00

My grandparents died a couple years ago and I miss them a lot. Sometimes I notice things about myself that I definitely got from both of them - namely not being able to throw things away. You'd think I was the one who lived through the war. I just found some pins that my grandmother brought back from a trip to Russia (maybe circa 1990). She organized all the pins by attaching them to a Russian postcard. There are a few pins missing and next to the spaces are the names of which grandchild took the pin. I have a lot of things that belonged to my grandparents, but this card was so my grandmother and it really makes me smile.

(Becca, your name isn't on the card. I think it means you're owed a Russian pin!)

It's Always Blazing Freaking Hot in Philadelphia

2010-07-27T14:23:00.001-04:00

Went to Philadelphia this weekend to visit my sister, Ezra and Wesley. It was too hot to do much, but we didn't have a problem eating, swimming with dogs, lounging in the cool water hot tub, or playing Family Feud on Wii.

Abe and Wes waiting for dinner to commence.

A dinner fit for kings.

Post-dinner trip for ice cream.

Me and Wes raced for the tennis ball and I won!

Huevos Rancheros

Jaime is all business when it comes to brunch.

Brunch dessert: rhubarb, strawberry & blueberry crumble

Wes wanted a taste of that crumble soooo bad.

Dumbest Family Feud category ever.

I Got Color...and I'm Not Afraid to Use It.

2010-07-20T14:31:00.000-04:00

Smoldering Hues Shower Curtain - Anthropologie - $118

Silk Screen Art Print (You, Me, and Everyone Else-2) - Beau Ideal - $35

Destiny Womack Original painting - $179.00

Color Theory T-Shirt - Non Fiction Tees - $15.00

It Was a Scorcher

2010-07-19T13:13:00.001-04:00

Abe and I had planned on doing some Hudson Valley activities this weekend, but it was so freaking hot we didn't feel motivated to leave the house/yard. At least we managed to ride our bikes over the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge at dusk on Friday and then had burgers at Max's before I passed out on the couch watching Real Housewives of New Jersey.

At least the garden is enjoying the heat!

Siobhan came over Saturday night and we had a decadent meal at Max's on Main while listening to Chowderhead. They play some serious hits for classic rock lovers like me & Sio.

After Max's we retired to the backyard with Abe and Paws and enjoyed the warm, summer night and s'mores made in the microwave.

Happy 30th, Kim!!

2010-07-15T11:33:00.000-04:00

Spent a lovely evening in Williamsburg, Brooklyn last night as we celebrated Kim's 30th birthday at Berry Park. We had a little sprinkling of rain while on the rooftop, but it cleared up and ended with a beautiful sunset over the Manhattan skyline.

Lychee, red bean & green tea ice cream cake from Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

Allyson's Last Weekend of Freedom!

2010-07-13T21:00:00.006-04:00

Allyson and I have been best friends since the 7th grade and now she's getting married! We've gone through a lot in the last 18 years, but this summer is going to be one that we'll remember and cherish until the day we take our final dirt nap.

For her bachelorette party all 8 of Allyson's bridesmaids traveled from all over the country to meet up in Old Orchard Beach, Maine to celebrate the single life. We did this by prancing around in our bathing suits, eating everything in sight, drinking all day long, and watching every single episode of The Hills.

Allyson wasn't quite sure what to do with this display, but it doesn't matter the shape or size, a Funfetti cake never disappoints.


On Saturday, if you looked forward, this is what you saw.

But, if you looked behind you, this is what you saw.

Either the world was about to end or it was about to rain.

It rained.

He is a very scary man.

Jill caught Whitney getting scrambled on the Scrambler.

Getting seriously about organizing our koozies.

R.I.P. my little koozie. You were a casualty of the night.

Love you, Allyson!!! Happy Bachelorette Party! "I misss Miiiikeyyyy!"

Throw Pillows - 3 New Colors for Summer!

2010-07-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

Throw Pillow - Hot Pink with Honeysuckle print in pink ink - $24

Throw Pillow - Hot Pink with Honeysuckle print in Sea Green ink - $24

Throw Pillow in Purple with Honeysuckle print in white ink - $24

CLICK HERE to view the entire line of pillows, dish towels, bags & pins in the Wicked Mint Etsy shop.

God Bless America & 3-Day Weekends!

2010-07-06T22:50:00.001-04:00

Fourth of July weekend 2010 was a good one. Lots of hanging, eating, drinking, whatevering....

On Friday we went to Dutchess Stadium for the Hudson Valley Renegades game. Abe and I enjoy a sporting event so we're pretty psyched that there is a minor league baseball stadium in our town (well, technically the next town over, but it's super close).

On Saturday Jaime and Ezra picked up Wes and we said our goodbyes. I miss him already.

Saturday night we picked up Preeya and Dave and headed to Pennsylvania for Alex & Becca's annual 4th of July celebration. Those two know how to throw one hell of a party. Tent City quadrupled in size this year. It's was like summer camp!

8 am Sunday. Seriously. It was amazing.

Ella was the star of the show this weekend. There's nothing like an adorable, funny toddler who likes to talk.

Look at all us completely enchanted as she smashed water balloons on the ground.

Stefan brought the kitten he just rescued. Her name is Batman and I love her.

Delaware River dip.

Abe observes the new frontier.

Wesley Moves In

2010-06-29T11:24:00.000-04:00

This weekend my sister, Ezra and Wesley came for a visit. They're leaving Wesley with me and Abe for a week while they go on vacation. Paws is not a happy camper, but Wes doesn't seem to really care. It's allll about him.

We hit the Beacon Riverfest and caught The Fleshtones and some very chewy and overly re-fried fried dough.

Then we took Wesley swimming in the Hudson River.

He was NOT pleased when we told him it was time to leave. As a matter of fact he threw a doggy temper tantrum and stood his ground a solid 50 feet behind us as we threatened to leave without him.

That night we feasted.

And then we marked our heights on the door jamb.

We also went for a little hike/scouting for a swimming hole in Fahnestock State Park.

Preeya - I wanted to take this full skeleton home for you, but Abe wouldn't let me! There was also some reluctance on my part because I felt like we might be disturbing the forest if we removed them.

The Career Cats Blog Launch

2010-06-17T14:50:00.001-04:00

I haven't been blogging on a daily basis for the last couple months. Not because things got boring for me, but because things have been super busy. What has kept me so busy? Well, for one thing, my new blog....Career Cats!

There are a lot of horrible things going on in the world right now and I thought to myself "Ryan, what can you do to make a difference?" and the first answer that popped into my head was "Orange Mocha Frappuccino!", but the second thing that popped into my head was "Cat blog!"

So stop by and pay your respects to all those hardworking cats making a difference in this world.

You can also join the Flickr pool to add your own career cat photos, or email them to me.

And I will leave you with this gem:

Colleen & Kenny Wedding Festivities Begin!

2010-06-14T10:23:00.001-04:00

This weekend was one of the best times EVER. Not only was it my birthday, but this weekend we also celebrated Colleen and Kenny's wedding shower and on Saturday night the girls took Colleen out for her bachelorette party!

Andy + Maria

Margot + Matt

Brooke thinks to herself, "What is marriage?".

Meredith made this and it was goooood.

Pre-bachelorette party I spent a couple hours indulging myself in honor of my birthday.

Mmmmmm....Peter Pan Donuts.

Abe got me a bird house for my birthday!

Piper made me this for my birthday breakfast!

I can't really show photos from the bachelorette party. Not because we did anything bad, but because we were a pack of feral dogs and I don't think we need the world to see us in feral dog mode fully accessorized in bachelorette party supplies. Let me just say that I love my friends and I can't believe how lucky we are to have each other. We started off real classy with a wine tasting at Bottle Rocket and then moved downtown to Biny for several hours of karaoke, and then ended the night at Enid's in Greenpoint.

It wouldn't be a birthday if I didn't end up with dessert on my face.

Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn Wrap-Up

2010-06-08T13:46:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn. Abe and I drove down Saturday morning and had a pretty easy set-up. Boy, I had a killer spot located right next to the entrance of the park on Driggs & Union (Thanks, Renegade!). The weather was fantastic, we had a major turnout of shoppers, and Abe and I got to see tons and tons and tons of friends and cousins! Seeing so many friends was definitely the best part of the weekend even though I was crazy busy and couldn't really focus on conversations. Thanks to everyone who came by! I had a lot of great customers who scooped up tons of pillows, bags and dishtowels.

Summer Love It

2010-05-28T12:50:00.001-04:00

I got a birthday creeping up and so I'm compiling a short list of things I wouldn't mind owning...

handwoven scarf from Pidge-Pidge: $82

fabric necklace from Thief & Bandit: $36

Steven Alan + Keds: $68

Brooklyn Comes to Beacon

2010-05-17T22:05:00.004-04:00

Had a fan-freaking-tastic weekend in Beacon with Abe, Preeya, Dave, Luke and Kim (and a surprise appearance by Piper on Sunday night). They all made the trek from Brooklyn to spend some time in the country. We went through 20 lbs of charcoal, 2 bottles of whiskey and just acted like irresponsible adults for a couple days. Obviously this means we went to cosmic bowling. I also got some stellar yard sale finds.

Preeya and I made silhouettes of each other and we came out looking like Beavis and Butthead.

This weekend we decided to start marking everyone's' heights in the door jamb.

Preeya frolicking.

Abe bowled a 168!

Post-bowling fuel.

Chocolate chip pancakes with syrup made from leftover red wine. Yum!

Yard sale score! Best $2 I ever spent.

Congratulations Leah & Jon!!

2010-05-11T20:21:00.000-04:00

Last week I went to San Francisco and then drove up to Napa for the wedding of one of my oldest and very best friends. Leah and I met when we were freshman in college where we formed a friendship so close we became part of each others family. She and I have gone through so much together, we know so much about one another, and she and Jon are going to have the most wonderful life together. I love them both so much and I am sooooo happy for them!!

The wedding was set on 148 acres of land at a friend's family home. Jon and Leah have an amazing group of extremely talented friends who volunteered to help with food, music, and photography, which made the lavish party extra special.

Joni nervous about her flower girl role.

I Would Drive 500 Miles

2010-05-03T21:18:00.001-04:00

I had a freaking whirlwind of a weekend. I believe I drove about 700 miles this weekend. Left Beacon Saturday morning, went to a family party in the north part of Massachusetts, went to Shrewsbury to catch up with my BFF Allyson so we could talk details about her upcoming wedding, then Sunday morning I drove back to Beacon to wrap up a few things before heading down to Brooklyn for WORD's Momma Said event.

Why was it worth a 3 hours round trip to go to Brooklyn for 2 hours?

Check out her new earrings. Love.

Cause Piper, author of the blog My Mom the Style Icon was one of the hilarious writers reading a little something in honor of Mother's Day next week!

Packed house!

So packed people were forced to sit in mini chairs.

Scrap Felt Rug

2010-05-01T00:29:00.001-04:00

Recently I've noticed that I just get plain old jealous of people that have time to do creative projects. My to do list of craft projects is way longer than amount of free time I have. When I saw this rug on Martha Stewart blog my jealous-o-meter shot off the charts. It's aweeeesome. Way to go, Kristin St. Clair! I want a large rug like this in every room of my house.

photos via MarthaStewart.com

Hudson Valley Hotspots

2010-04-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

A couple weekends ago my friend Chelsea (now living in San Francisco) came up to visit us in Beacon. We only had a couple days to fit in all the sites, but managed to hit all the hot spots...even a quickie visit to DIA: Beacon before we treated ourselves to a trip to Target.

What visit would be complete without a trip to Southern Dutchess Bowl?

Walkway Over the Hudson - 212 ft in the air.

Guess who's tired? This guy!

2010 Beacon Barks Dog Parade

2010-04-29T13:48:00.003-04:00

This weekend was the 4th annual Beacon Barks dog parade. Main Street was shut down for several hours for the parade and so people could wander around with their dogs and check out the vendors set up along the road. It was insane how many dogs were at the parade...I'm guessing people came from other towns?

Not-so-coincidentally, this was also the weekend my parents came to visit with Phoebe and Zeke. They liked being at the parade for a little while and when they got tired we took them "swimming" (P & Z think swimming means sitting in the water wearing their leashes).

Zeke enjoying a snack.

Phoebe wondering why people think Zeke is cuter than her.

Wicked Mint on Main Street

2010-04-21T11:50:00.003-04:00

Wicked Mint pillows and dishtowels are now being sold in Beacon, NY at the über cute shop, Clay, Wood & Cotton located right on Main Street next to Bank Sq. coffee.

Be sure to stop by the shop the next time you're in the Hudson Valley! Clay, Cotton & Wood also hosts lots of classes, workshops & events.

We Love a Gala

2010-04-20T11:22:00.003-04:00

Last night I went to the LOVE Benefit, WET Productions' annual gala. It was AWESOME. I don't know what was my favorite part...the space (Angel Orensanz Foundation), the food, the short plays, or all the amazing people in the room. Sasha and Victoria know how to throw an amazing party. (And lots of love to Sasha who has a baby on the way any day now!)

Sasha and Victoria sit on stage as Nora Ephron presents and award to Linda Obst

Oh, I know what was my favorite part! Taking photos in front of the step & repeat and pretending that we're Real Housewives of NYC.

Piper and her mom looking fabulous.

Colleen & Piper acting casual

Giving Jill Zarin, Bethenny Frankel & Kelly Bensimon a run for their money.

Veggies on the Horizon

2010-04-16T13:56:00.000-04:00

I have a massive layer of rock about 6 inches under the grass. I think it's cause my town is at the bottom of a mountain. Either that or there is an ancient burial ground in my back yard. I've given up trying to work my way through the rocks and for the vegetable garden I built a raised bed.

This rhubarb has been in the family for years. Seriously. My grandmother grew it along the house for the longest time. When my grandparents passed away, and my aunt & uncle moved into the house, my uncle moved the plants to a more spacious location and they grew like crazy. I took a cluster of rhubarb from my uncle's patch and planted it by my driveway.

On March 21st it looked like this:

On April 14th it looked like this. It's creepy. I think I hear her calling me at night. Feed me, Ry-Ry, feeeeed me!

A Weekend of Homeownership

2010-04-13T11:07:00.002-04:00

This weekend Abe and I got to hang out and do things around the house & yard, which is something I've been dying to do for months.

Even Paws got to step outside, which is a huge deal for all of us - he has been an indoor cat for 9 years!

This is literally a shot of his first steps onto the front porch. His face is priceless.

Well, he's still an indoor cat and will never actually be allowed to roam free, but a hang out sesh on the porch was enough excitement to knock him out.

Nevada

2010-04-08T11:12:00.000-04:00

I've been really into time-lapse videos lately. A friend of a friend of a friend made a video of their 2-year old's birthday party and it was the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

I just found this time-lapse video of an artist painting and thought it was really cool...plus I was just in Nevada so that was kind of neat too.

Nevada from robertjosiah on Vimeo.
2009–10, acrylic on linen, 54 x 120 in., many hours.

music: "Build Voice" by Dan Deacon

More info at http://robertjosiah.net

Congratulations to Margot & Matt!!!

2010-04-07T21:47:00.001-04:00

This weekend Matt proposed to Margot!!! This was a day we've all been waiting for since they magically found each other 6 years ago. I couldn't be more excited for them, and it makes me so happy to see them so happy.

Last night they hosted an engagement party at their apartment. I forgot my camera, but I think my iPhone was still able to capture the happiness.

I'm also really loving that me, Colleen & Margot are all engaged at the same time. It's so awesome!!!

DIY: Spring Wreath

2010-04-07T21:36:00.005-04:00

I got a grapevine wreath with fake berries on clearance at Lowe's back in January.

Now that winter is over I figured it was time to hang something more spring-like, but I don't really want a collection of wreaths. My mom always has a wreath hanging on the porch and she adds silk flowers and bows to change with the season. I figured mine was simple enough to do the same.

This afternoon I found a broken dogwood branch hanging from a tree. It was kind of sad that it was broken off the main tree, but still managed to blossom.

I decided to take it home with me and use it to spruce up my wreath.

What Happens In Vegas....Uh, Ends Up on My Blog

2010-04-05T20:50:00.001-04:00

Brain. Not. Working.

I just got back from a 4 day trip to Las Vegas for my best friend Leah's bachelorette party. This was my first trip to Vegas and thanks to Leah and her friends it ended up being an insane trip. Leah lives in LA so we don't see each other very often and this was a much needed quality time to spend together.


Donny and Marie like to keep an eye on The Strip.

We were lucky that a couple of her friends had crazy hook-ups and were able to get us a massive suite at Planet Hollywood, VIP service at the clubs, and dinners at Nobu and Enoteca San Marco. I am still wrapping my head around all the fun we had as we pranced around like rock stars.

Our suite - we also had 2 adjoining bedrooms. We trashed the place minute within the hour.

Our view from the suite.

Our second course at Nobu - toro with white asparagus, truffles and olive oil & balsamic

Saturday night we went to Blush at the Wynn and danced for hours.

There was at pin-up girl contest at Blush.

Tao Beach at The Venetian.

Our table at Prive at Planet Hollywood - this probably explains why my brain is mush.

www.rossandrachel.com

2010-03-24T14:40:00.007-04:00

I stumbled on a bizarre fansite dedicated to Rachel Green and Ross Geller. Enjoy!

Fan fiction: The Diary of Emma Ruth Geller

Fan fiction: Through the Eyes of a Ring

Fan fiction: A Promise of Forever

Enagagement Party Week

2010-03-24T09:54:00.007-04:00

Last week Abe and I got engaged (still can't believe it!). One of the best parts of getting engaged is that everyone wants to celebrate with us!

During the week we met up at the Robeling Tea Room with a bunch of our NYC friends and family.

On Saturday we drove up to Massachusetts and my parents had a little BBQ with some of their friends (practically family) and Dave and Brit were able to come by for a little bit too.

On Sunday, Abe and I woke up super early and drove our butts back to New York to see my sister and her boyfriend. They were visiting his dad, which is awesomely near Beacon, so we had another BBQ, got to meet his dad, played with Wesley, and chopped down a cherry tree.

Abe and I also did a ton of yard work this weekend. Can't wait to share photos of the garden plans!

The Great Comic Debate of 2010

2010-03-19T11:00:00.004-04:00

You may remember the Great Cracker Debate of 2009, and today I am here to bring you the Great Comic Debate of 2010.

If you were in solitary confinement for the rest of your life and couldn't have anything in your cell except a daily comic (but you can collect them and keep them all) would you rather have Cathy or Ziggy or Family Circus?

New York Weddings Summer 2010

2010-03-18T11:18:00.010-04:00

Wicked Mint appears in the newest issue (Summer 2010) of New York Weddings!

The Love Birds dishtowels can be purchased from my Etsy shop. Just click here.

****

And....awesomely, a photo from my parents' wedding was also featured in the same magazine!

Congratulations to Piper Weisss for getting a freaking 6 page spread called All About Our Mothers. Check out her blog: My Mom, the Style Icon.

Beacon Weekend: Big, BIG News!

2010-03-16T10:35:00.013-04:00

This weekend was really fun: bowling on Friday, a delicious dinner at Walter Foods and my friend Aaron's birthday party in Brooklyn on Saturday, my first trip to Stew Leonard's, and crazy, insane storms that ripped trees from the earth.

However, probably the most exciting thing happened late Sunday afternoon while on a walk at Jay Sharp Park on the Hudson River in Beacon.

It was there, in knee-high rain boots, wading in the flooded park, that Abe proposed to me and...

WE ARE ENGAGED!!!

I can't even begin to describe how excited we both are - we've been together for over 4 years and I couldn't wait for this day! He managed to surprise the life out of me, and when he pulled out the ring all I could say was "Are you serious?!" I was stunned for a minute and then my iPod when off and Adam Lambert started playing from my pocket. That broke my daze and we immediately started calling family and friends.

Four years ago I had told him about a ring I saw at the Cooper Hewitt Museum made by a Brooklyn designer named Kiel Mead and he actually remembered! Love you, Abe!

No dates or details figured out yet, but I am realllly looking forward to planning my wedding. Talk about the ultimate craft project....eeek!

Landscaping 101: Pavers

2010-03-12T09:43:00.004-05:00

I have visions for how I want to landscape my front, back and side yards. I have a pretty small plot of land, but feel fortunate that the previous owners left me a blank slate.

I am trying to be realistic about what I will be able to manage this spring/summer, and one thing I absolutely want to do is remove part of the sidewalk that extends into my backyard and create a small patio for my grill.

I know I for sure what to use pavers/grass, but there are so many options.

I love the cut out for plants used in this one.

via RO/LU on Flickr

I love the use of Blue Star Creeper between the stones in this one.

via Alfred's English Gardens

I thought I wanted honeycomb pavers, but now I'm realizing they might be more difficult to install and provide an uneven surface for the grilling station.

Gardening 101: Starting Seeds

2010-03-12T09:19:00.008-05:00

We are promised loads of rain in New York this weekend, which normally isn't the best of news, but this time it means all the snow in my yard will finally melt! That means it's time to prep the gardening ventures for 2010.

Toilet Roll Seed-Starters

via You Grow Girl

Newspaper Seed-Starter Pot

via Design*Sponge

Egg Carton Seed Starter

via Instructables

Here is a list of herbs & veggies I plan on growing this year. Let me know if you have any other suggestions!

Dill
Mint
Thyme
Oregano
Basil
Cilantro
Chives
Rosemary
Parsley
Sage

Brussel Sprouts
Tomatoes (variety)
Zucchini
Summer Squash

And if I have room, but I don't think I will:

Beets
Turnips
Peas
Broccoli
Eggplant
Cauliflower

Tord Boontje

2010-03-08T10:21:00.003-05:00

I must have at least one of these Until Dawn curtains by Tord Boontje. I would like it for the upstairs bathroom, but the space is very small and it would compete too much with my shower curtain, which I love and don't want to take down.

So the other options are to put it in my office, or to put it in the library, which someday will become into the "Adventurers Club" room.

However, I'm a little nervous about how Tyvek will look and why is white on white $65 extra? Ugh, I guess I won't get one - I don't want black or lilac.

Beacon Weekend: Spring Cometh

2010-03-08T09:03:00.006-05:00

This weekend Abe and I went bowling twice. Friday night we were having dinner at Max's on Main St. when Abe said to me "I kind of want to go bowling." So did I.

Saturday morning Colleen arrived and we headed outside to enjoy the beautiful day. We took Colleen to Walkway Over the Hudson. She was pretty scared, but we walked the 2 miles back and forth, and even used the telescope thingy. I am very proud of her.

On our way home we stopped at Halftime - it's this crazy beer store that has every beer in the world. It was really fun.

Saturday night we brought Colleen, Margot and Matt to Cosmic Bowl - Colleen is good, but she's no stranger to a bowling alley. Margot & Matt have only bowled a couple times in their lives and they totally kicked ass. And, finally, the guy that runs the place acknowledged me & Abe and invited us to join a league.

After bowling we went home for to hang out and had ourselves some French fried potatoes with a fixins bar.

On Sunday I went for a walk by the river and enjoyed the spring-like weather.

Shop Update: New Sloucho bags!

2010-03-07T19:26:00.005-05:00

Gold Shimmer Sloucho Bag with Black Bunny Rabbit, $15
This one is being made in limited quantities for Easter. Skip the ol' wicker Easter basket this year and fill this bunny Sloucho bag with candy and chocolate.

Silver Sloucho Bag with Black Stallions, $15

Midnight Blue Sloucho Bag with Gold Stallions, $15

10 under $20

2010-03-05T16:02:00.006-05:00

I've been killing a little time browsing sales and thought I'd share some of the cutest/best deals.

:: New York & Company Belted Long Coat with Faux Fur Scarf (size: XL)
$149 marked down to $19.99

:: Urban Outfitters Silence & Noise Silky Secretary Blouse Dress (size: L)
$68 marked down to $19.99

:: Urban Outfitters Circle Line Flower Shower Curtain
$32 marked down to $19.99 (I have this and love it!)

:: Urban Outfitters African Medallions Shower Curtain
$32 marked down to $9.99

:: Gap V-neck Cardigan (size: various)
$44.50 marked down to $14.99+

:: Gap Striped Boat Neck (size: L, XL, XXL)
$22.50 marked down to $17.50

:: Anthropologie Conundrum Necklace
$38 marked down to $19.95

:: L.L. Bean Personal Organizer (size: medium)
$24.95 marked down to $18.99

:: Banana Republic Timeless printed tank (size: XS, S)
$20 marked down to $12.99

:: Urban Outfitters Kitten Placemat
$4 marked down to $2.99

Blizzard with a Capital Snow

2010-03-01T11:15:00.005-05:00

Last week we had two big snow storms in Beacon. Earlier in the week we got about a foot of snow, and then from Thursday to Saturday we had a major blizzard - we're talking 3 feet of snow, no power, and fallen trees & branches.

It was pretty magical, but also a pretty dangerous. Our area was declared a State of Emergency. I'm lucky because my house got power back after 24 hours, but some people are still without and might not be getting it back until mid-week.

It was a fun weekend despite the lack of heat & hot water. On Friday Dennis came up for a visit and we were still able to visit the Walkway Over the Hudson. Then we hit up the Poughkeepsie Galleria and Friendly's just cause that's what you do to comfort yourself when you think you won't have heat & hot water for a week.

Riesling over freshly fallen snow - luxury at its finest.

And of course no weekend would be complete without Cosmic Bowling (still not sick of it and I bowling my all time high of 118).

On Sunday, Lauren came up for the day and we rounded out the weekend with a big ol' brunch at the Yankee Clipper.

Beacon Parents Weekend

2010-02-21T17:31:00.007-05:00

A busy weekend here in Beacon, NY. Abe's dad is visiting so we're doing a combination of touristy/home repair things.

On Saturday we got up at the crack of dawn and hit up Home Depot where I bought my first power saw and plywood for the attic floor. Yay!

Then we went to Dia: Beacon. The sun was shining and the light in the galleries was amazing. Probably the best part was when I looked outside and saw deer frolicking behind the building.

Later in the evening hit up Southern Dutchess Bowl for Cosmic Bowling night. In the lane next to us was a dad wearing a Seeger t-shirt with his teenager son who was pacing around with a handmade rain stick. It doesn't get more cosmic than that.

The other super exciting thing that happened this weekend is that my parents, the dogs, and Abe's dad all met for the first time!

Brunch was prepared by moi for the parental meet-n-greet.

My mom brought me gorgeous flowers and a candle that smells like cake.

Abe's dad taught him to use a power saw and work began on the attic floor.

One of my life-long dreams is to live in an old house and find a treasure map hidden behind an old framed painting, or a diary from a previous resident, or lean up against a bookcase and discover a false wall with a secret hide-out for the Underground Railroad. Well, it's no velvet pouch of jewels, but I was digging around in the attic today and found some "treasures" buried in the insulation.

A baby photo from 1986, scraps of an old magazine (I can't figure out the year, but the images show women in Victorian clothing and advertisements for 10 cent hosiery), and an old framed print.

Introducing....Wonton!

2010-02-19T09:54:00.004-05:00

Piper got a new baby named Wonton!

Brooke, Abe and I hung out last night and consumed several pounds of cheese, olives, crackers and kitten.

Abe's dad is visiting and our parents are going to meet for the first time this weekend. I'm very excited and can't wait to do some home & Beacon stuff.

BTW - did you happen to catch Real Housewives of the OC? If so, you may be interested in a link to Alexis and Jim Bellino's pastor Jentezen Franklin.

The Bold & The Beautiful

2010-02-18T15:04:00.005-05:00

I was a child under 10 in the 1980's and my taste in fashion & home decor comes from that brief period in time: Gitano brand clothes, Guatemalan worry dolls, friendship bracelets, puffy paint, glow in the dark stars...

Heck, if my gym offered Get in Shape Girl ribbon stick classes I would definitely be more motivated to workout.

So I couldn't be happier that bright colors and patterned weave are popping up all over the fashion & craft world.

Animal Bandito cardigan $64.99, Shooting Star necklace $23.99, wool tweed booties $110.00, 3'x5' cotton rag rug $54.00, Unique Freestyle necklace €195.00, Guatemalan worry dolls $2.95, knapsacks from Swank Dollar (not for sale), ICE Hex Bib Statement Necklace $85.00

Wicked Mint on ETSY

2010-02-16T15:46:00.004-05:00

Yay! My new Brown Tweed Honeysuckle pillow made it to the front page of Etsy this weekend!

A mega thanks to carolinascreations. I was in Boston all day and wouldn't have known if she hadn't sent me a message and a screen shot!

For the Birds

2010-02-16T14:10:00.008-05:00

It's been snowing here since last night and I am starting to get a nasty case of the Spring Gardening Itch. I bought my house in November and barely had time to plant a few crocuses before the ground froze. I've spent 3 months (and 20+ years) dreaming of my very own garden and I want to get started.

Today I am thinking about bird baths. I live in the center of town on a small plot of land, but I dream of curating a backyard that is the talk of the bird community.

However, just like with rugs, curtains and lamp shades, I am finding out that nice bird baths are a lot more expensive than I expected. I might end up making one using these rustic pot instructions from Martha Stewart. [on a side note, check out these instructions for making stone flower pots - so awesome! I'm going to add that to my DIY list too]

Can you guess which one is my dream bird bath that is way out of my budget? Hint: the website describes it "Straight from the depths of a mystical forest..."

[from top down: The Essential Bird Bath $609.99; Wildwoods Rustic Bird Bath $390.75; Faux-Granite Bird Bath $249.95, Birch Birdbath With Cardinal $225.50, Magical Mushrooms Bird Bath $197.00]

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-16T09:27:00.006-05:00

Hope you had a nice Valentine's Day weekend! I spent mine away from my main squeeze, but I still participated in some major love-themed festivities.

Saturday was a biggie for my BFF, Allyson. On Saturday we went to Boston and shopped for her wedding dress! And even bigger news - we found the perfect one! I can't wait for August so I can post some pictures and show her off.

On Friday night I visited with Dave, Brittany and Esme. Esme was in a Valentine-making frenzy.

On Sunday there was an engagement brunch for Allyson and Mike at his parents' house. We got there around noon and proceeded to eat & drink our way through the day.

Yesterday I didn't get out of my pajamas, but managed to do some cleaning and then Abe and I settled in with some Chinese food and The Bachelor.

Where's My Sno Tube At?

2010-02-10T23:01:00.002-05:00

Kind-of-blizzard in NYC (it wasn't nearly as bad as it was supposed to be)!

And that meant I got to leave work early and go home!

All the snow made me want to bake and eat warm things like...BREAD PUDDING!

But I couldn't resist using my new food processor so I also made some salsa.

That's the Tastiest Crunch I've Ever Hoid.

2010-02-10T12:05:00.003-05:00

While you're over there adding the new Wicked Mint to your list of fan pages, why don't you support another worthwhile cause: Can This Pickle Get More Fans than Nickelback?

Oh okay, and also check out the page for I LOL'D when i saw this picture of Robert Pattinson. Maybe not become a fan of it, but I dare you not to LOL.

Beacon Weekend

2010-02-08T22:15:00.001-05:00

This weekend was relaxing, but I still got a bunch of work done. I'm experimenting with sewing fabric buckets and zipper pouches. Nothing is perfected, but hopefully they're not too far away from landing in my shop.

Friday afternoon we had a party at work. This turned into several rounds of Asshole (sorry, but that's the name of the game). I was president twice!

Saturday is a blank. I don't think we did anything until the afternoon when we went for a walk down Main St. to go get coffee at Zuzu's Petals. They took down their bulletin board and instead have a Business Card Box, which I thought was a neat idea. I took it upon myself to help them enforce the rules and removed all the duplicates and then chose my favorites of the bunch. I'm bossy.

I brought Abe to Beacon Bath & Bubble - my favorite store in Beacon.

Then we decided to have a drink at Joe's Irish Pub. We had 2 pints of beer and Jameson on the rocks for $9.

Then we made this recipe from Real Simple magazine - sesame chicken with gingery baby bok choy, except we couldn't find bok choy so we used broccoli rabe. I LOVE broccolli rabe. (I was too hungry to take my own photo.)

Wicked Mint on ETSY

2010-02-08T11:54:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Tara of RedGlasses for including my tweed Honeysuckle pillow in her Rough & Tumble Treasury!

Wicked Mint on Facebook

2010-02-08T11:10:00.004-05:00

Wicked Mint just opened up a page on Facebook and would love it if you would become a fan!

If you have a Facebook account all you have to do is click here and click the "become a fan" button!

Shop Update: Love Bird Dish Towels

2010-02-07T15:09:00.004-05:00

Fresh off the sewing machine: new dish towels for sale in the shop!

This large, cotton dish/tea towel with a thick weave is ready to lend you a hand in the kitchen.

The print is of four love birds filled with navy/turquoise or magenta/red ink in a flower pattern. Both the pattern and image of the birds were drawn by me.

Towel measurement approximately: 16" x 28"
100% cotton.

Machine wash cold & dryer safe. The towel will become softer and more absorbent after a few uses.

This listing is for one towel.

Visit the shop at wickedmint.etsy.com

Damn you, Gilt Groupe!

2010-02-05T12:10:00.006-05:00

Fudge, I am trying really hard not to spend money since I now have mortgage payments and 3 weddings to attend this summer, but I couldn't resist this Cobra Applique dress by Nanette Lepore.

If you haven't joined Gilt Groupe yet, do so by clicking here: Gilt Groupe Invite It's torture sometimes, but I've gotten some really awesome designer clothes for not too much money.

Beer, Belts & Buddies in Brooklyn

2010-02-04T20:46:00.003-05:00

Last night Meredith, Margot, Colleen and I went out to dinner at An Nhau in Williamsburg. Well, first Margot and I met for beers at Mug's Ale House and then we met the other two for dinner. Since I was sleeping over in Brooklyn I knew I could sleep in until 7:45, which feels luxurious compared to 6:15. This made me think it was okay to drink wine and beer for several hours.

I realized that I forgot a belt and needed one for my pants that I was wearing the next day. Luckily the Salvation Army was still open on Bedford and I magically scored this little macrame number for $1.99.

The food at An Nhau was goooood. We sat in a large, circular booth and felt like we were in an episode of Real Housewives of OC.

After dinner Colleen and I hopped a bus to Greenpoint and met up with Kenny at The Habitat. I saw that my old apartment is still for rent, which makes me a little sad. That building is gross, but a lot of good memories were made there.

Then we went back to Colleen & Kenny's apartment where we listened to the Suckers album, Colleen tried on her wedding dress for me (it looks awesome on her!), and Colleen and Kenny had some kind of dance off.

Walking over the Pulaski Bridge this morning I noticed this bench someone constructed. It's been there for a while, but I never paid attention to it until today. It's kind of neat.

How-To Tuesday

2010-02-02T18:02:00.006-05:00

I'm not a Valentine's Day person if you're talking about dates, dinner, and extravagant gifts. However, I'm your girl if you're talking about indulging in hearts, swirls, pinks & reds, flowers and glitter!

Here is a round-up of things you can make for the love of your life:

What? Using a color printer can be considered crafty - a printable vintage-style Valentine's Day card

available at Ruffled
♥
For the cat lovers out there - Catnip Heart Mice

available at Sew 4 Home
♥
Bring a little life back into that relationship - Heart Shaped African Violets

available at MarthaStewart.com
♥
Set the mood with these - Lace Votives

available at Good Housekeeping
♥
Best way to a person's heart - Chocolate Chip Heart-Shaped Pancakes

available at VeryBestBaking.com
♥
And after all that sugar you'll probably be craving salt - Valentine Pretzels
available at Maya*Made
♥
For those that want to publicly declare their love - Burlap Heart Wreath

available at Skip To My Lou
♥
Yesterday's news is tomorrow's Valentine - Newspaper Heart Bunting
available at Maya*Made

Brooklyn & Beacon Long Weekend

2010-01-31T19:47:00.003-05:00

I took a 4 day weekend and for once it actually felt like it was neverending! I spent Thursday in Brooklyn and the rest of the time was spent up in Beacon getting tons o' work done.

While in Greenpoint I got this dress from Hayden-Harnett for 70% off. Yay!

You'll notice that I changed the banner of my blog, which was one of the many things I accomplished while watching 2 seasons of Greek. Have you seen Greek? I'm beyond addicted. Please watch it so we can talk about it.

This photo will make sense once you watch the show.

Friday night Abe and I decided to get out of the house and go bowling at Southern Dutchess Bowl. Best. Idea. Ever. Stepping into that bowling alley is like stepping into a time machine to the 1980's, which is exactly how I like my bowling alleys and roller skating rinks.

Abe in action.

Sunday I gave the local gym a whirl - it's a pretty awesome fitness center, but it's a 15 minute drive and I'm really not sure if it's worth joining considering I don't get home until 7:30pm. I just don't know if I'll go - ugh, I know I have to make myself go. Maybe I'll just join a gym in the city and go during the day. Isn't this the most interesting one-sided conversation ever?

Shop Update: Corduroy with Gold Stallions Poucho Bag

2010-01-30T20:53:00.003-05:00

Fresh off the sewing machine: a chocolate brown, corduroy bag with print of two gold stallions.

Exterior pocket for quick access to lip gloss, iPod, or sunglasses.

Interior pocket with zipper to organize and protect your valuables.

Large interior is big enough to fit books, a pair of shoes, a sweater, or just your wallet, keys and phone.

Interior is lined with magenta brocade fabric.

Straps are sewn from faux leather (animal-free!)

Visit the shop at wickedmint.etsy.com

Shop Update: Linen Dish Towels

2010-01-30T12:30:00.003-05:00

Fresh off the sewing machine: new dish towels for sale in the shop!

This over-sized linen dish/tea towel is ready to lend you a hand in the kitchen.

A ribbon is sewn into the hem so it can be hung from a hook.

The entire towel is printed with inky-lined plaid pattern in red, navy, periwinkle and cream.

The print reminds me of a house we used to stay in on Cape Cod. The entire bottom floor was red/white & blue and probably hadn't been touched since the 1960's.

Towel measurement approximately: 20" x 30"
100% cotton linen

Machine wash cold & dryer safe. The towel will become softer and more absorbent after a few uses.

Visit the shop at wickedmint.etsy.com

Adventures in Voice Over Acting

2010-01-28T17:03:00.011-05:00

Yesterday, Colleen went to a voice over convention. I'm still not entirely clear on what happens at a voice over convention, but I do know that Colleen needs to be a voice over actor.

Anyway, she went to the convention and didn't know she was supposed to have headshots and a prepared script to read in front of agents. Everyone else had scripts from actual commercials, but with only 20 minutes before her audition she had no choice but to write her own commercial. So she quickly invented a product called Herpinol and wrote a script.

After the convention Colleen met up with me and Piper and we were dying over her day. Her script is pretty much the best thing ever. We couldn't stop reading it in front of the camera - and apparently the casting call requested only women with long, brown hair and bangs to audition. Here are the best reads of the night.*

Herpinol: take back the night you got herpes.

*Please note that none of us are making fun of having herpes and do not think having herpes is funny. Did you know that one in five Americans have genital herpes (yet at least 80 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it)? To learn more about herpes please go to the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/STDFact-herpes.htm

DIY: Office/Studio Makeover - Stage 1

2010-01-25T11:53:00.005-05:00

This weekend I tackled my office/studio.

The previous owners had painted it a sea green color. Abe liked it, but I hated it so I repainted using Valspar brand paint and chose the color Creme Fraiche (soft white).

First thing to do was to organize the desk. We have so many cords and contraptions that it took over 1/4 of the surface space.

The previous home owners had left an Ikea shelf with wine rack in the basement. I installed that under the desk and moved everything electronic down below. It needs some more work, but it's a major improvement.

While cleaning up I found two empty Crystal Light canisters. Colleen had given me a housewarming gift wrapped in pretty paper and I saved it. I wrapped the canisters in the paper with a little Mod Podge.

I left the top on one of them and cut some holes so I can store my seam rippers - I'm always losing them.

For the grand finale, I took a 8 ft. piece of white molding and cut it in half. Using wood screws, I put the molding on the top and bottom of a 2'x4' sheet of pegboard. Then I hung the pegboard on the wall using pegboard spacers (you don't want it flush on the wall or the hooks won't fit).

I also reused a shelf the previous home owners had in the room, but I moved the location.

And finally, the fun part - organizing and enjoying my clean space!

Beacon Weekend

2010-01-25T11:16:00.004-05:00

Saturday was spent with one of my best friends and her friends and family. There is sadness surrounding the circumstances, but there is also laughter and hugs and lots of love. XOXO.

There was also delicious food and good times with the Cat Paint app.

On Sunday, Abe and I went to DIA: Beacon for a members' tour of the new space for the Robert Ryman gallery. I don't know if you're familiar with his work, but it's mostly just different shades of white paint on square surfaces.

I have to admit that I think most of it was baloney art talk, but I did find the curator to be very interesting and knowledgeable. I would say that this gallery at DIA was always my least favorite, but after the talk I can appreciate the pieces.

Probably the best part of the whole tour was looking at all the hip, modern eye wear. At least 80% of the people in the room wore glasses. I'm thinking only 50% of those people had prescription lenses.

After the tour there was a small brunch. I ate 2 chocolate croissants. They were small!

Pawsgon, Take Me Away

2010-01-19T21:37:00.006-05:00

If Paws realllllllly likes you, AND if your hair is a little greasy, AND if Paws is feeling especially kind and loving, then maybe you will be one of the lucky few to get a bath from him. He likes to bathe people when they are watching tv so he can creep up behind your head while you recline.

Abe got a bath tonight while eating tomato soup.

Then Abe brought out a very strange, but very cute, dessert plate for me and him to share while watching Millionaire Matchmaker.

Happy Birthday, Abe!!!!!

2010-01-19T21:10:00.003-05:00

My little baby boyfriend turned 30 years old this weekend! Ahhhhhhh we're 30!!!! I wasn't able to get Abe a birthday cake so I just brought candles with me and kept sticking them into things.

First we went to Ulysses and had a drink and visited with Fitz.

Then we headed to Brooklyn and made our elves comfortable at our Brooklyn home a.k.a Piper's house.

With Piper and Colleen by our sides we made our way to The Richardson where lots of friends came by to celebrate.

Piper got sleepy so me and Colleen decided to get "energy drinks". It was a lemon drop shot that we sipped while toasted each other in rhyme.

Late night Abe and I walked back to Piper's house and I bought him chicken and french fries from Kennedy Fried Chicken - one of his Greenpoint faves.

Congratulations, Piper!!

2010-01-14T11:38:00.004-05:00

It's official!! I am crazy excited for my bestie, Piper Weiss. She's gonna be a bona fide published author!

Her blog, My Mom, The Style Icon, is set to become a book from Chronicle in 2011.

We're all so freaking proud of her.

How to Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

2010-01-13T11:41:00.004-05:00

Taken from NYDailyNews.com:

Disaster relief organizations are mobilizing to aid Haiti - and are asking or help. Funds are needed to provide enough safe water, temporary shelter and vital medical supplies.

UNICEF and Save the Children already have emergency teams in Haiti, and the Red Cross has released $200,000 in disaster funds.

You can donate to these groups:

- Text Yele. Wyclef Jean is urging donors to text 'Yele' to 501501 and make a $5 contribution to the relief effort over cell phone. Click here to get more information via Wyclef's Twitter page.

- Save the Children. Donate at savethechildren.org or make checks out to "Save the Children" and mail to: Save the Children Income Processing Department, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, Conn. 06880

- UNICEF. Go online to unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call (800) 4UNICEF.

- Red Cross. Go online to redcross.org and click Donate, or call (800) REDCROSS.

- Direct Relief International. Donate online at directrelief.org.

- Mercy Corp. Go online to mercycorps.org or mail checks to Haiti Earthquake Fund, Dept. NR, PO Box 2669, Portland, Ore. 97208 or call (888) 256-1900

To find information about friends and family in Haiti: The U.S. State Department set up a toll-free number to call for information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747.

The department said some callers may receive a recording because of heavy volume of calls.

The State Department has also set up links on its Web site to facilitate donations to disaster relief agencies.

Skip the Email Once in a While

2010-01-11T15:10:00.010-05:00

My friend Colleen and I had an idea for a greeting card company back in 2004. It never amounted to much, but we did enjoy calling business meetings, making lists, and discussing our future millions over beer at Sweet Ups (I think that explains why the business never took off).

Just as well, there are so many great stationary designers out there:

[from top: A Baby's Day by Andy Pratt Design, Thank You Times Square by Andy Pratt Design, Inappropriate for 8-Year Olds Birthday Card by Flytrap, What I Love About You by Flytrap, Lovey Cat by Kirsse Wilton, Set of 6 birthday cards by Electrofervor, Thank You in Many Languages by OrangeTwist]

Beacon Weekend

2010-01-10T15:32:00.006-05:00

Abe and I went to the Beacon Farmers Market on waterfront Sunday morning. I got fresh eggs from Walnut Grove Farms - check out the colors! These are not from Key Foods, my friends.

The river was all iced over and making crazy cracking sounds.

Love Ya 4-Eva

2010-01-10T14:48:00.006-05:00

On our first date, Abe and I went to dinner in the East Village and then walked over the Williamsburg Bridge. Four (eeek) years later, we celebrated our dating-versary by walking over the Poughkeepside Highland Railroad Bridge, and then hitting up dinner and a movie.

The Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park (formerly the Poughkeepside Highland Railroad Bridge) just reopened as a pedestrian bridge in October 2009. It was freaking awesome, but it was also 10 degrees without the wind...and there is a lot of wind when you're standing above of the Hudson River.

Did I mention that we had dinner at the Red Lobster? It started off as a joke earlier in the day, but a few hours later we were sitting in a booth ordering the Admirals Feast and coconut shrimp. It was fun, but I think we realized that Brooklyn turned us into food snobs (thank goodness) and we're over the chain restaurant novelty.

I've never doubted how much Abe loves me, but after dinner he did something for me that not many men would do. He took me to see New Moon.

Happy Birthday, Brooke!

2010-01-08T14:59:00.000-05:00

Since Brooke was in Amsterdam for her birthday, we had to celebrate with her a week later with dinner at Alexandria in the West Village.

Brooke's actual birthday is on New Year's Day so we had to bust out the champagne.

My Feet + LL Bean = BFF

2010-01-05T23:25:00.004-05:00

Three or four years ago Santa brought me a pair of these LL Bean knit slipper socks. I freaking love them and have nearly worn them out.

These days I am finding that I need something a little more transitional. I don't turn on the heat in the kitchen because it is electric so the floors are freezing, but I'm also constantly running down into the basement and outside - my slipper socks don't like the snow and rusty nails.

I'm sticking with LL Bean and purchasing a pair of these puppies. The name of the slipper style? Wicked Good Moc Boots. How appropriate. I'm getting the men's version because they look like bunnies with the little shearling tail.

Mens Wicked Good Moc Boot

Womens Wicked Good Moccasin

Future Resident of my Dream Farm

2010-01-05T21:00:00.000-05:00

I was just reading this article on NYTimes.com and learned of a breed of goat called the Tennessee fainting goat. It doesn't actually faint, but when startled it freezes and may loose muscle control and collapse.

photo taken from NYTimes.com /Mike Mergen for The New York Times

Look at that beard! So cute. And it faints like a woman in a 1950's horror movie when surprised by a monster...or a swear word.

Beacon Weekend: The Recovery

2010-01-03T23:21:00.002-05:00

I was in zombie-mode after all the NYE festivities. My sister, her boyfriend, and his dog came for a visit Saturday night. That night, and most of the next day, we spent on the couch (all 5 of us) - taking turns to go into the kitchen and bring back more snacks, wine and Bloody Marys.

Wesley loooooves Abe. He kept wiggling over and squirming his way into Abe's arms.

Wes also loves Bloody Marys.

Wesley pretty much just loves all forms of attention.

I did manage to leave the house Sunday morning and take Wesley for a walk. That was a lot of fun even though it was 16 degrees.

Last night there was a marathon of The Secret Life of the American Teenager. It's not a good show (think 7th Heaven unsuccessfully trying to be 90120), but I consumed 4 hours of it and this morning found myself on the Facebook fan page for the show. Tonight is an all new episode. Will I watch it? The signs point to yes.

New Year's Eve in Beacon

2010-01-02T09:09:00.004-05:00

Hosted New Year's Eve and it worked out perfectly! It was a butt load of work to prepare since we're still not fully unpacked, but shoving things in the basement and attic seemed to save a lot of time.

Happy New Year everyone!! Awesome friends, awesome family, awesome times in 2010.

Girl talk and wine in tiny tea cups upstairs in my office.

Dancing in the dining room.

Movement class with Paws' toy.

Snowball fight!!

Quarters in the basement.

Beverage Center.

Front porch hang-out sesh.

Bacon for breakfast.

DIY: Modern Bookcase

2009-12-30T19:19:00.005-05:00

I needed a bookcase in the "library" to hold my magazines. I didn't want to spend a lot and I also don't have room in my car to fit a large unit. So, I found these instructions for a 60-Minute Bookcase on Instructables.com. (It took me way longer than 60 minutes by the way).

My dad helped me pick out the lumber and cut it all for me. He also used his math brain to figure out the dimensions. Then I brought the lumber home and stained it all (still needs another coat and protective finish, but I'll deal with that later).

My unit was a little wider so it started to come apart when I loaded on the magazines. Luckily, I had some 1" dowels in the basement that I was able to cut and use as extra support. I also used brackets to brace it to the wall.

And here it is fully loaded:

I'm pretty happy with it! Looks exactly how I imagined. Thanks, Dad!

Preparing for the Future

2009-12-30T08:51:00.006-05:00

Abe and I are having a few friends over tomorrow to celebrate New Year's Eve. I'm kinda freaking out cause the house is a disaster and there is so much to prepare. Ugh, I wish we painted before moving in...not that that was even an option.

I am pulling most of the recipes for tomorrow out of the current Real Simple magazine. There are like 20 recipes for appetizers that can be prepared ahead of time. I was trying to write out a grocery list, but my magazine and paper seemed to get in the way of Paws' bath. He requested I instead write out directions on how to take a bath.

What? I was here first.

You just work it from elbow to paw in one, nice lick.

No photos, please - ha, j/k.

Oops, missed a little spot on the paw.

Oh yes, stretch it out. Gotta get those armpits.

And then just settle in, there is no need to move anytime soon...unless the lady moves the magazine, in which case you move to wherever it goes.

Have a Happy New Year's Eve! I'll see you in 2010 a.k.a The Future.

Christmas Weekend 2009

2009-12-28T11:48:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone celebrating Christmas had a wonderful weekend! Mine seemed to last forever, which was awesome.

Santa brought me a ton of presents including a food processor, new Dansko shoes, earrings, and a Home Depot gift card, Abe made me a spice rack, my sister gave me a cake stand that converts into a punch bowl, and Allyson gave me a framed print for my future Enchanted Forest Room. There was much more, but I don't want to seem like a spoiled brat.

On Christmas morning it is family tradition to torture the pups. Phoebe and Zeke are scared to death of the camera. Phoebe will take off and hide, but Zeke is such a good boy that he'll sit and tolerate a few shots.

Phoebe was forced out of hiding by Jaime so she could show off her antlers. Zeke's face is stuck inside his Santa hat.

Later in the day I went to Allyson's house to exchange gifts with her mom and visit with the family. I am obsessed with Adam (her brother) and Carolyn's dog. Chris (her other brother) is holding up one of his famous designer cards.

Then we head to Chelmsford to hang with family. This year we had 19 people in the Yankee Swap. Abe got #2 and Jaime got #3...the worst numbers you can get...I got #17 woo hoo!

I love when it snows on Christmas Day.

The day after Christmas brought more celebration. We had dinner and Yankee Swap with family in Shrewsbury, and then we went over Dave and Brittany's for a party and got to see lots of friends.

Four out of six Green cousins. We're getting too big for this couch.

We spiced up the Yankee Swap this year by putting everything in brown paper bags.

Santa Paws

2009-12-24T10:45:00.003-05:00

It's Curtains for Me

2009-12-23T13:19:00.006-05:00

Abe and I realized that we need to change something in the bedroom because the wall color (dark gray and painted by previous owner) is the same color as the flowers in our curtains. As Abe described: "It's too matchy-matchy."

I made these curtains for our Brooklyn apartment bedroom in 2007. I'm ready to move on, but will probably use them in the guest room since they're still nice....or maybe I'll just recycle the fabric into a new project.

Some people may wonder why we don't just paint the walls a different color. Abe and I agree that painting SUCKS. It has taken us a week to paint the upstairs bathroom. Since we like the color of the bedroom walls we decided to change the curtains instead.

photo taken from first week - we don't keep tools on the bed anymore

Side note: you know what I've learned in the last month? Curtains and lamp shades are crazy expensive.

So now we need to decide on curtains. Any ideas? Keep in mind that my duvet is orange. Here are mine so far. I'm leaning toward the Marimekko Taikamylly Green fabric even though it's expensive (why is the blue a million times more expensive? I love that one, but $132 is out of the question) . Abe said it's too busy, but I'm a sucker for Marimekko fabric so I might have to overrule his vote.

Should this really be occupying so much of my brain? Someone make a decision for me.

[from top down: Tree Garden Curtain $28.00-$34.00, Bacati Window Curtain $34.99, Marimekko Taikamylly Green $52 yd., Marimekko Taikamylly Blue $132, Marimekko Metsanvaki Lime $42 yd.]

Beacon Weekend

2009-12-20T15:39:00.005-05:00

Colleen came up for a sleepover this weekend! We did a whole lotta eating, wine drinking, gift tag making, and Christmas movie watching.

Paws and Colleen used to be roommates when we all lived in the Maxxxi Pad (our warehouse loft apartment in Williamsburg circa 2004-2006). They had a lot of catching up to do.

Made the most delicious dinner ever. Roasted, spiced sweet potatoes, apple and melted brie on Portuguese rolls, and an iceberg wedge salad.

Snowstorm!

Paws was not going to help me shovel.

On Sunday we took a walk up Main Street.

I bought these lamps at Lorraine's Place.

Then we had lunch at Max's on Main Street. There was a serious Jets football game thing going on in there, but the food was delish and Bloody Marys were spicy.

Holidays at RDM

2009-12-20T15:15:00.003-05:00

My 6th holiday party at RDM and probably the most fun and least stressful to plan.

Fatima catered all of the food with the exception of Don's guacamole, Hillari's brownies, and my cookies. She cooked a gourmet, mega feast that fed us all for two days.

Fatos and Don were the beer pong rookies and destroyed all the other teams. Here is Fatos aiming for the winning shot:

Victory.

Dilemma of the Day

2009-12-18T10:28:00.004-05:00

Which one of these bohemian cat prints do I buy for the new home? I think I might have to go with the Grumpy Persian.

[from top down: Grumpy Persian $6.00, A Chess Match with the Count $6.00, Her Ladyship $6.00, An Evening Out with the Boys $6.00]

Ahmad and Erika Get Hitched!

2009-12-15T12:52:00.002-05:00

Abe and I drove back from Massachusetts the day after Thanksgiving for Ahmad and Erika's wedding in Staten Island/New Jersey.

The reception was amazzzzing and beautiful and FUN.

Not Jewish, but the chair thing is always fun:

RDM represents:

Necessary Unnecessaries

2009-12-08T23:50:00.001-05:00

Or are they unnecessary necessaries? Food for thought.

In either case, these things make my eyes light up and my heart go a-flutter. I can rationalize by saying I will use them to wrap presents.

Washi Paper Masking Tape $25.00, Divine Twine $15.00, Martha Stewart Border Punches $15.00, Stitched grosgrain ribbon $.79-$2.98 per yd, Glitter $1.59-$2.59 per bottle.

Back to a New Reality!

2009-12-06T23:18:00.002-05:00

Two days before Thanksgiving I bought my first house! The following week was a blur as Abe and I moved to Beacon, NY and began living in "the country".

Moving was grueling and took 2 full days (I run my business out of my home and have A LOT of stuff - I also have a little bit of a hoarding problem). Once the moving was complete, we started to make our daily trips to Lowes, furniture stores, IKEA, Home Depot, Target...and finally we started to unpack.

At least it's a damn fine looking Home Depot. (Note all the snow - first snowfall of the year!)

My parents came to visit Saturday and Sunday and my mom was a huge help in the painting department while my dad did electrical things in the basement. Thanks, Mom and Dad!! The dining room had been a dark red so getting it to a light gray took forever.

On Sunday three of my gal pals - Colleen, Piper and Brooke - came up for a visit, which was awesome! We went out for brunch at the Yankee Clipper diner and sat next to this guy from the reality show American Chopper.

All in all I'd say the adjustment from Brooklyn hasn't been jarring (yet) and pretty much everything has been super exciting!!

I promise to post photos, but I haven't taken many yet because the house is still filled with boxes and Paws is still trying to figure out how to put together the IKEA office chair.

Moving is Always Fun!*

2009-12-01T10:32:00.003-05:00

*Not.

Hello from the other side. Abe and I moved Sunday and again on Monday. It's been a grueling move, but at least we now have everything here at the house and can start unpacking! My dad is driving some furniture to us today and this weekend both my mom and dad are coming to bring another load and help set things up.

After a 16 hour day of moving yesterday, Abe and I were back in Beacon at midnight. We were relaxing with a beer (me) and tequila (Abe - we only had 1 beer) while I cleaned the fridge when I realized I needed paper towels from the U-haul truck. I was pulling things out of the truck so Abe came out to help me. We were carrying everything back inside and - oops, the front door is locked. And so are all the windows. So we both in pajamas, in the middle of the night, outside in 40 degree weather and don't know how to get inside. Luckily the former owners left their ladder so Abe climbed up to the roof and was able to break into a window that I left accidentally left unlocked (irresponsible, but soooo lucky I did that).

So today we're changing the locks, hopefully fixing the screen on the window, and absolutely making sure we hide a key somewhere.

I have tons of photos from Ahmad and Erika's wedding, thanksgiving, and the move, but it's going to have to wait until we've unpacked a little bit more.

Woke Up & Bought a House

2009-11-24T15:36:00.006-05:00

Today I woke up at 6am, made some coffee, drove up to Beacon, and bought a HOUSE! Yahooo!

It's going to a crazy week ahead, but I'll probably post off and on since we have Thanksgiving, a friend's wedding on Friday, and tonight we'll all going to the Rusty Knot to celebrate my big purchase!

If you're in town c'mon by and dance to the debut DJ performance of Foxtails!

Brooklyn is Better, Brian.

2009-11-21T23:37:00.001-05:00

After a few fun-filled months, Brian Ray slipped on back to LA. He'll be back though...he'll miss us too much.

We went to the bar The Woods to celebrate his last night, but we missed the memo that a tour bus was going to be dropping people off for a bar crawl. Since when does this happen in Williamsburg?

We were not interested.

So we ended up at Bar Celona and drank martinis, which was equally strange, but at least they had a fireplace.

Just a Li'l Thing

2009-11-20T19:41:00.005-05:00

As you may know, Abe and I are moving in a little over a week. So, tonight I'm about to get on the train and remember to grab a bunch of free newspapers for packing up fragile items. I grabbed a stack of am New York papers and got on the L train.

I sat with the papers under my arm on the train and played solitaire on my iPhone. Then I transferred to get on the G train. As I walking on the platform I dropped the stack of 20 papers on the platform - one guy with headphones thought about helping me for a minute, but didn't. Anyway, I gathered them all up just as the train rolled in. When I got on the train and sat down I straightened out the stack of papers.

That was when I [finally] realized that I was freaking staring at my friend Jessica!

I'll have to wait to get more papers tomorrow because these are collectors items.

VOTE FOR ME!

2009-11-19T19:15:00.007-05:00

I designed a 2010 calendar for the latest Spoonflower Fabric of the Week design contest.

It looks like a sheet of loose leaf paper. How spiffy would that look hanging up in your office? Let me tell you - with this calendar you are totally going to be in business.

If I win then it'll be for sale in the Spoonflower shop - not only that, but I'm going to be selling it (with a nice little hanger) in my Etsy shop too. I just need some validation that people love me so please vote vote vote for me me me. Thanks, luv ya!

I know there are lots of cute ones - tough competition - but please vote for mine!!!!

VOTE HERE

Learn more about Fabric of the Week contests here.

Total Tesh Fest

2009-11-16T21:17:00.009-05:00

I dabble in a lot of things, but the one talent that never ceases to amaze and entertain Abe is that I can whistle the MLB on Fox theme song.

Tonight I was whistling it for Abe and I was like "I should learn the football one, how does that go?" and he said "You know which one you should learn, go type in [into Google] 'NBA on NBC John Tesh'."

I did this (even though I hate basketball) and thank god I did because what I found next COMPLETELY BLEW OUR MINDS.

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to behold one of the most amazing things on the Internet. The healthy heads of hair, the guitar solo, the cocky attitude, the man himself...Mr. John Tesh!